Employees rights and benefits

 

Employee' rights encompass a large array of human rights from the right to decent work and freedom of association to equal opportunity and protection against discrimination. Specific rights related to the workplace include health and safety in the workplace and the right to privacy at work, amongst many others.

 

Employee’s rights

1. Compensation equality

It is that employees that perform the same job and are required to have the same abilities and training to perform it must perceive equal compensation. This applies not only to the base salary but also to bonuses, overtime pay, equity and any other form of compensation you may be granted by your employer.

 

2. Freedom to join a Union

This right is based on Article 11 of The Human Rights Act, and it protects the freedom that employees have to join an association that can represent their interests and get them more beneficial working conditions through collective bargaining.

 

3. Safe workplace

            All employers must guarantee safe working conditions that will not cause employees to be injured, sick or killed.

 

4. Harassment free workplace

            A safe working environment also means that employees are protected against harassment. All companies are required to put policies in place that will protect employees against any form of harassment

 

5. Non-discrimination

Discrimination in the workplace on the basis of race, religion, sex, political opinion, national or social origin, and other grounds must be strictly forbidden. Moreover, employers cannot discriminate against a qualified individual who has a disability. When employers make decisions regarding compensation, hiring, firing or promoting an individual, they cannot discriminate against them based on any of the attributes mentioned above.

 

·         Employee Benefits

                ·         Insurance Plans

                ·         Disability Insurance

                ·         Tuition Reimbursement

                ·         Corporate Discounts

                ·         Paid Vacation

                ·         Retirement Plans

                ·         Paid Sick Leaves

                ·         Performance Bonus

 

 Do employees have the right to benefits?

            All categories of employees in Sri Lanka are entitled to superannuation benefits under the Employees Provident Fund Act No 15 of 1958 (EPF Act) and, where applicable, the Payment of Gratuity Act No 12 of 1983 (Gratuity Act). The following laws also apply equally to all categories of employees:

                ·         Industrial Disputes Act No 43 of 1950 and amendments to that Act.

                ·         Workmen's Compensation Ordinance No 19 of 1934 and amendments to that Ordinance.

                ·         Trade Union Ordinance No 14 of 1935 and amendments to that Ordinance.

                ·         National Minimum Wages of Workers Act No 3 of 2016.

                ·         Budgetary Relief Allowance Act No 4 of 2016.

                ·         Inland Revenue Act No 24 of 2017.

References

                ·         De Saram, F (2019). Employment and employee benefits in Sri Lanka. Practical Law. https://uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/w-015-7246?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)&firstPage=true

                ·         Workers’ rights (2020). National action plans on human rights. https://globalnaps.org/issue/workers-rights/

                ·         Employee Benefits And Compensation Ideas (2021). Vantage circle. https://blog.vantagecircle.com/employee-benefits-compensation-ideas/